Peabody blanks Concord-Carlisle in girls’ soccer

In a game that pitted two of the top strikers in the state, it was Hayley Dowd and top-ranked Peabody who walked away with the 2-0 home win Monday over Andrea O’Brien and No. 8 Concord-Carlisle.

Both Dowd (136 goals, 54 assists) and O’Brien (94 goals, 28 assists) are their school’s all-time leading scorer, but only Dowd was able to add to her total, netting the first goal and assisting on the second for the undefeated Tanners (12-0). Dowd, who has been battling a hamstring injury, now has 15 goals and nine assists this season.

Peabody coach Dennis Desroches knew his striker would have to shoulder the offensive load after his team lost its second-leading scorer, Victoria Digiacomo (17 goals, six assists), to a hip injury early in the first half.

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“Losing Victoria was a big hit for us,” he said. “But as a result, Hayley really elevated her game and the intensity that Concord-Carlisle brought to the match brought out the best in Hayley.”

“This was one of Hayley’s better games this season,” Desroches added. “She hasn’t been playing at her top level due to her injury, but what she did for us today was huge. We needed her to score points for us today and she really took it upon herself to do that.”

O’Brien, who will team with Dowd next season at Boston College, was also shouldering more of the offensive responsibility for the Patriots, who were short a scorer with Emma Brandhorse out due to a concussion.

As a result, the Tanners were able to hold the Dual County League’s leading scorer (19 goals, six assists) in check by keeping a defender close to her at all times.

“We made sure that she was never unmarked,” said Desroches. “She’s that dangerous. Just like Hayley, you can’t give her any open looks or you’ll get burnt.”

Sharon 3, Fontbonne 0 — Mary Griffin, Madison Tippett, and Samantha Alves scored for the Eagles, who earned their second playoff berth in 15 years.